Category Archives: UAE

The United Arab Emirates,often abbreviated as UAE or shortened to The Emirates, is a federation situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Iran.

(Reuters) – The United States is seeking to build regional shields against ballistic missiles in both Asia and the Middle East akin to a controversial defense system in Europe, a senior Pentagon official disclosed on Monday.

The effort may complicate U.S. ties with Russia and China, both of which fear such defenses could harm their security even though the United States says they are designed only to protect against states like Iran and North Korea.

The U.S. push for new anti-missile bulwarks includes two sets of trilateral dialogues – one with Japan and Australia and the other with Japan and South Korea, said Madelyn Creedon, an assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs.

Such shields could help counter perceived threats to their neighbors from Iran and North Korea and help defend the United States from any future long-range missiles that the two countries might develop, she told a conference co-hosted by the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency.

The model would be the so-called “phased adaptive approach” for missile defense in Europe, Creedon said. This includes putting interceptor missiles in Poland and Romania, a radar in Turkey and the home-porting of missile defense-capable Aegis destroyers in Spain.

Moscow fears that such a shield, given planned upgrades, could grow strong enough by 2020 to undermine Moscow’s own nuclear deterrent force. It has threatened to deploy missiles to overcome the shield and potentially target missile defense installations such as those planned in NATO members Poland and Romania.

China likely would be even more opposed to an antimissile shield in its backyard, said Riki Ellison, a prominent missile-defense advocate noted for his close ties to current and former U.S. senior military officials involved in the effort.

Beijing “would take much more offense to an Asian phased adaptive approach than Russia is doing with the European one,” he said, calling regional shields a good idea in theory but problematic in reality.

GULF STATES

In the Middle East, Creedon said Washington will work to promote “interoperability and information-sharing” among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – as they acquire greater missile-defense capabilities.

The Obama administration at the same time stepped back from an announcement this month that it was weighing the possibility of giving Russia certain classified missile-defense data as the price for winning its acquiescence to the European shield.

“We are not proposing to provide them with classified information,” Ellen Tauscher, the administration’s special envoy for strategic stability and missile defense, told the conference. Instead, she said, the Obama administration had offered Moscow a chance to monitor a flight test in international waters of a U.S. Standard Missile-3 interceptor.

This, she said, would let Russian officials see for themselves the accuracy of “what we are saying about our system.” The United States argues that the U.S. system poses no threat to Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

As recently as March 6, the administration had said it was continuing negotiations begun under former President George W. Bush on a pact with Moscow that could include sharing limited classified data, but said it was making no headway toward a deal with Russia.

Obama’s administration was not the first “to believe that cooperation could be well-served by some limited sharing of classified information of a certain kind if the proper rules were in place to do that,” Bradley Roberts, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, had told the House of Representatives’ Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces at the time.

The idea of such data-sharing drew sharp criticism from Republicans in the U.S. Congress including a move to legislate a prohibition.

The rollback on any such deal involving classified data exchange came after President Barack Obama was caught on camera on Monday assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the November 6 U.S. presidential election.

Obama, during talks in Seoul, urged Moscow to give him “space” until after the vote, and Medvedev said he would relay the message to Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin.

“My sources say the next step is to make Gulf governments (their ruling families) figurehead bodies only without actual ruling. The start will be in Kuwait in 2013 and in other Gulf states in 2016,” Khalfan said.

Khalfan sparked a controversy after threatening earlier this month to arrest renowned Islamic scholar and leading Brotherhood figure, Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi, for criticising the United Arab Emirates for deporting Syrian protesters.

Reacting to the developments in the UAE, Mahmoud Ghazlan, Spokesman of Muslim Brotherhood, condemned the arrest warrant for Dr Al Qaradawi, Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

Challenging the UAE establishment, Ghazlan said: “The United Arab Emirates cannot dare to arrest Sheikh Al Qaradawi. It is just a physiological war and propaganda. The cleric cannot be arrested.”

Meanwhile, the UAE government has asked the Egyptian authorities to explain its stand on the statement of Ghazlan.

Notably, Dr Al Qaradawi recently criticised the decisions of UAE government to cancel the residency permit of Syrian expatriates for staging protests against Syrian regime in Emirates and withdraw the citizenships of six Islamists who were found involved in terrorism funding.

All FPSO production critical equipment was run and fully tested prior to vessel departure thus minimizing the period between arrival in the field and first production of oil.

Upon arrival in the field the BW Athena will be hooked up to the pre-installed production system. Hook-up will mark completion of the development phase and the Company anticipates that the production phase will commence in early Q2 2012. Production is anticipated to reach approximately 22,000 (1) barrels of oil per day (“bopd”), approx. 5,000 bopd (net to Ithaca).

Polarcus Limited announces that the Company has received a Letter of Intent from an undisclosed client for a 3D seismic acquisition project offshore NW Europe.

The program will commence imminently and is expected to run for approximately 75 days.

About Polarcus

Polarcus is a pure play marine geophysical company with a pioneering environmental agenda, specializing in high-end towed streamer data acquisition from Pole to Pole. Polarcus operates a fleet of high performance 3D seismic vessels incorporating an innovative design and advanced maritime technologies for improved safety and efficiency. Polarcus offers contract seismic surveys and multi-client projects worldwide and employs over 500 professionals. The Company’s principal office is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Unique Maritime Group, one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution providers, announced today the introduction of the Light Weight Taut Wire MK 15 B to their rental pool inventory.

The Light Weight Taut Wire Mk 15B is a position-reference system used extensively with Dynamic Positioning of vessels, which is designed to provide accurate data of a surface vessel’s movement with respect to the position of a depressor weight on the sea floor.

Harry Gandhi, CEO of Unique Maritime Groupcommented on the addition “We are happy to introduce this Cost-effective, Well-proven and reliable technology to our customers with an operational water depth up to 300 m”.

The Light Weight Taut Wire Mk 15B is a position reference system designed for use in deck-mounted port or starboard position on surface vessels. A wire is maintained at a constant tension by means of a depressor weight on the sea-bed and a pneumatic and electric servo-assisted “mooring” system. Any movement of the vessel will cause the tensioned wire to deviate from its initial inclination. This movement activates potentiometers mounted in the gimbal (sensor) head and produces changes of analogue signals directly proportional to the deviation in inclination, which is interfaced to the Dynamic Positioning of the vessel.

Founded in 1993, Unique Maritime Group is one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution providers. Through its expanding network of companies, UMG is a specialist in the provision of services, and the sale and rental of equipment for the marine, diving, hydrographic, oceanographic, and NDT market sectors. The group has an established manufacturing capability for the delivery of customized engineering projects worldwide. UMG has local presence in USA, UK, South Africa, India, Middle East, Russia and Singapore and employs over 500 people worldwide.

Oil and gas company Perenco is buying a 70% interest in the Teak, Samaan and Poui Block (TSP), offshore Trinidad and Tobago. The interest in the fields, located offshore south east of Trinidad, has been bought from Repsol E&P T&T, a subsidiary of the Spanish oil company Repsol. Repsol has rights to eight blocks, one […]

This Friday seems to be about Floating LNG news. Following the news that Petronas has produced first LNG from its first FLNG unit in Malaysia, and that CHC will provide more helicopters for Shell’s large Prelude FLNG project in Australia, there’s more on FLNG. Namely, Japan’s JGC Corporation has received an order for the construction […]

Norwegian offshore safety body, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has turned a notification of order to Prosafe into a formal order as a result of the company not fixing irregularities found during an audit of the Safe Scandinavia tender support vessel (TSV) in September 2015. The Safe Scandinavia is an accommodation rig converted to a TSV in […]

Teekay has posted a video on Thursday showing the conversion of the Brazil-bound FPSO Pioneiro de Libra, sharing some interesting numbers. The company said that the Pioneiro de Libra FPSO conversion required a project team of 162 people, a commissioning team of more than 40 people and more than 3000 people working daily over the […]

Singapore-based provider of offshore marine services Pacific Radiance has delayed a charter for one of its offshore support vessels, that is still under construction, by a year. In November 2014, the company’s joint venture with DOT Holdings, named DOT Radiance, secured a long-term charter contract for one of its vessels ahead of its expected delivery in 20 […]

The global oil and gas exploration spending, which has been trimmed since the oil prices went down in 2014, will further fall in 2017. It might start rising in the next few years, but not to the pre-slump levels, a graph released by Wood Mackenzie shows. Also, on the oil prices, the energy intelligence group […]

Offshore service vessel provider Farstad Shipping has been awarded several new charter contracts in Australia with ConocoPhillips, Inpex, and McDermott. Farstad reported on Friday that ConocoPhillips Australia Exploration has issued a letter of intent (LOI) to the 2014-built anchor handler (AHTS) Far Sirius and the 2010-built AHTS Far Saracen to support the […]

After months of talks with creditors Norwegian offshore vessel owner Olympic Ship has received restructuring support. “The company is pleased to announce that the discussions have been successful and that the company has now obtained support for a financial restructuring of the Group from key stakeholders of the Group,” Olympic Ship said on Friday. The […] […]

The previously announced merger between offshore vessel owners REM Offshore and Solstad’s Solship Invest has been completed. The merger between the two Norwegian companies was registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises on Friday, December 9, 2016. The merged company will have a fleet of 61 offshore vessels, consisting of construction suppor […]

American oil and gas services provider Helix Energy Solutions is still waiting for its 4-year well intervention contract with Petrobras for the vessel Siem Helix 1 to start after experiencing unexpected delays. At the Capital One Securities 11th Annual Energy Conference on Wednesday, Helix said that its chartered vessel Siem Helix 1 was working through Petro […]

REM Offshore has completed its financial restructuring and merged with Solship, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solstad Offshore. The merger was completed as a statutory triangular merger, whereby... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Norwegian provider of subsea and offshore construction vessels, Olympic, said on Friday it has obtained support from its key stakeholders for the financial restructuring of the Group. Through... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Offshore services player Helix Energy Solutions has experienced ‘unexpected delays’ with its operations in Brazil as it anticipated an earlier start of its well intervention campaign for... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Oslo-listed SeaBird, a seismic data provider for oil and gas companies, has signed an agreement to provide a vessel for an upcoming 2D seismic survey in South America. The project is anticipated to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

ROV service provider, ROVOP, has recorded sales of almost £10 million in the second half of its financial year and EBITDA of £3.5 million for the six months to September 2016, an increase of 14... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

4Subsea, a Norwegian technology company specialised in production riser systems and subsea well systems, has launched Portable Annulus Tester (PAT), a product that automates integrity testing of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

OceanGate said it has started the construction of the Cyclops 2, a manned submersible with a depth range of 4,000 meters (13,125 feet). The company has ordered two titanium hemispheres and two... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Kraken Sonar Inc. informed that effective January 1, 2017, its new German subsidiary, Kraken Robotik GmbH (KRG) will start operations at the Bremen Innovation and Technology Centre (BITZ). In... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Toronto-based underwater mineral exploration company Nautilus informed that it has accepted the resignation of Cynthia Thomas from its board, effective Wednesday, December 7, 2016. Thomas joined the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Statoil’s active leases in the Gulf of Mexico

Sure, you could have waited for your significant other to get home from work to watch the next episode of "Jessica Jones," but you just couldn't help yourself. Here's how to clear your Netflix history and save yourself from a night alone on the couch. Follow Tech Insider: On FacebookJoin the conversation about this story » […]

Back in 2012, before Peter Thiel supported Donald Trump's quest to become president, the billionaire tech investor gave sharp advice to presidential candidate Mitt Romney — and was apparently ignored. "I think the most pessimistic candidate is going to win, because if you are too optimistic it suggests you are out of touch," Thiel told Romney, […]

Chipotle executives are warming up to the idea of drive-thru service after more than two decades of rejecting the fast-food staple. The company appears to be having a change of heart after launching its first drive-thru service at Tasty Made, Chipotle's newly opened burger restaurant in Lancaster, Ohio, according to Nomura Instinet analyst Mark Kalinowk […]

On Tuesday, Ohio's legislature passed a bill that, if signed into law by Governor John Kasich, would dramatically limit women's reproductive rights in the state. The so-called "heartbeat bill" would ban doctors from performing legal abortions on women with "a detectable fetal heartbeat", even in cases where pregnancy results fro […]

The biggest story in the NFL this season has been the strong play of the Dallas Cowboys behind the surprising emergence of Dak Prescott as a top-tier NFL quarterback. However, that newfound fame does come with some consequences, just ask Kyle Wilber and his clothes. Wilber is a linebacker in his fifth season. He is also Prescott's locker neighbor. While […]

Credit card processors are mostly responsible for data transmission and security when you use your card at a store or online to make a purchase. There are two types of processors in the payment-card system. Front-end processors route transactions from merchants to the cardholder's bank to gain authorization; that is, they make sure a customer has enough […]

A little over one month into the NBA, there have been a few surprises. Teams like the Lakers and Knicks are fun and competitive, the Bucks are back in playoff contention, and the Mavericks own the league's worst record. But, if we're being honest, this looks like a two-team race. The Warriors and Cavaliers look far superior to every team in their r […]

Submitted by Patrick Buchanan via Buchanan.org, The wailing and keening over the choice of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA appears to be a lead indicator of a coming revolution far beyond Reagan’s. “Trump Taps Climate Skeptic For Top Environmental Post,” said The Wall Street Journal. “Climate Change Denial,” bawled a disbelieving New Y […]

Last week a Republican member of the Electoral College, Christopher Suprun, published an op-ed in the NYT explaining why he would not be casting his vote for Donald Trump. Suprun is the same elector who the NY Post reported one month ago that he’s on track to vote as assigned for Donald Trump next month, despite reports saying he’d consider going rogue and v […]

Joe Scarborough dropped an epic dose of truth on Hillary and her disaffected, snowflake supporters this morning after Clinton herself took to the stage yesterday to blame "fake news" for her stunning loss. Apparently not a buyer of the "fake news" excuse, Scarborough blasted Hillary, and democrats in general, saying that "Hillary Cl […]

Earlier this week we warned that as the trend to robotization accelerates, millions of (mostly) low-skilled American jobs will be lost in the next five years, replaced by robots as companies seek to maintain high profit margins in a time of rising wages and growing inflation. One company, however, can not wait that long. British outsourcing giant Capita, a c […]

Submitted by Michael Shedlock via MishTalk.com, For all the shock, horror, and aghast of global warm-ongers, comes a startling revelation: It’s Irrelevant if US Pulls Out of Paris Accord. Donald Trump has sent his clearest message yet about his plans for reshaping US policy on global warming by choosing a chief environmental regulator who has questioned the […]

According to various anecdotal reports, in addition to launching the stock markets on an unprecedented meltup, Trump's presidential victory has also boosted consumer confidence, leading to a spike in post-election spending. That, however, is not only not validated by the actual data, but according to evidence, retail spending - a key component of the Tr […]

In early 2009, roughly at the time when this blog was launched which coincided with the start of the greatest monetary experiment of all time, we warned that there are two ways it will end: either in hyperinflation, or a deflationary supernova, the failure of currency and, eventually, barter. Now, almost 8 years later, some of the world's top hedge fund […]

Submitted by Shaun Bradley via TheAntiMedia.org, As physical currency around the world is increasingly phased out, the era where “cash is king” seems to be coming to an end. Countries like India and South Korea have chosen to limit access to physical money by law, and others are beginning to test digital blockchains for their central banks. The war on cash i […]

Still unable to accept the fact that running a failed candidate and/or failed democratic policies may have had anything to do with Hillary's loss last month, Obama has directed the "intelligence community" to conduct a "full review" of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. Per The Hill, the review is slated to begin imme […]

Hold your real assets outside of the banking system in one of many private international facilities --> https://www.sprottmoney.com/intlstorage The Fact of Bullion Bank Gold and Silver Price Manipulation Posted with permission and written by Craig Hemke (CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL) Back in April, the Cartel Shills and Apologists attempted to […]